After week-long lull, Malaysia records three new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours

CORONAVIRUS | Malaysia has recorded three new Covid-19 cases in the span of 24 hours, having had no new cases for more than a week.

Last night, the Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said a 53-year-old Malaysian woman became the 23rd Covid-19 case in Malaysia.

Patient 23 had travelled to Japan and developed a fever as soon as she arrived in Malaysia on Feb 23 and was treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. She was tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 27.

Then, this afternoon, Noor Hisham announced another two cases - one involving a 41-year-old Japanese citizen (patient 24) working in Malaysia and another is a 54-year-old Italian (patient 25) who is married to a Malaysian.

Noor Hisham said the Japanese woman had travelled to Japan last month and Indonesia this month.

Covid-19 normally takes up to two weeks to manifest. Indonesia has insisted that it has no Covid-19 cases.

Noor Hisham said the Japanese patient came down with fever and had sought treatment on Feb 17. He was warded at a private hospital on Feb 20.

"A Covid-19 test was conducted and it was confirmed positive on Feb 27. She is now being treated at the isolation ward in Kuala Lumpur Hospital," he said.

As for the Italian patient, Noor Hisham said he had travelled to Italy for work from Feb 15 to Feb 21.

He began to have symptoms on Feb 22 and sought out-patient treatment for three consecutive days from Feb 23 to Feb 25. His test for Covid-19 came back positive today.

"He has been warded at the Sungai Buloh hospital isolation ward for treatment and observation," he said.

Until yesterday, Malaysia has had no new cases of Covid-19 since Feb 15.

Both Japan and Italy have been badly hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.

To date, Italy has recorded 650 cases while Japan has recorded 186 cases. Indonesia claims it has no cases.

Globally, Covid-19 has to date infected 83,272 and claimed 2,858 lives.